Rookie goalie Martin Jones leads Kings over Islanders

New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) takes a shot on Los Angeles Kings goalie Martin Jones (31) during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

Kings coach Darryl Sutter wouldn’t say why he started rookie goaltender Martin Jones over Ben Scrivens in Saturday night’s game against the New York Islanders at Staples Center. Sutter admitted he planned to play Scrivens, but then refused to explain the reason behind the switch.

“I don’t think I have to clarify it,” Sutter said tersely after his mysterious and apparently last-minute move paid off with a 3-0 victory over the Islanders, their ninth consecutive defeat, and a shutout for Jones in only his second NHL game.

Scrivens led the Kings onto the ice for their pregame warmup, usually an indication of a team’s starting goalie. But when the starting lineups were announced, Jones was in goal and Scrivens was not. Sutter offered only short answers when pressed after the game.

“It was supposed to be the other guy’s start,” Sutter said.

What prompted the change?

“I just said I don’t have to clarify it,” Sutter said.

Jones said he learned he would start during the afternoon, but declined to be specific.

“Late today,” was all he would say.

In the end, he would make 16 saves and help the Kings overcome their ongoing power-play struggles to improve to 8-1-3 since No. 1 goalie Jonathan Quick, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of the 2012 playoffs, suffered a groin strain Nov. 12 against the Buffalo Sabres.

Scrivens started 10 consecutive games, going 6-1-3 as Quick’s replacement, before Sutter replaced him for Tuesday’s game against the rival Ducks at the Honda Center. Jones, making his NHL debut, helped the Kings win a nine-round shootout.

It made sense that Jones would start Saturday against the lowly Islanders.

Why mess with a good thing?

Then again, Sutter often delights in going against the grain.

“I thought he was really solid,” Sutter said of Jones’ play against the Islanders, at last offering something resembling postgame insight and analysis. “He had some big saves for us. He really held us in there in the first period. I thought he was outstanding.”

After their customary scoreless first period, the Kings scored the only goal they would need when center Anze Kopitar accepted a lead pass from defenseman Alec Martinez and whistled a shot past New York goalie Kevin Poulin at 12 minutes, 8 seconds of the second period.

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Dustin Brown and Tyler Toffoli (empty net) added goals in the third period as the Kings did what they could to ease Jones’ burden. The Kings gave up only five shots in the final period after surrendering just four in the second to the Islanders.

Meanwhile, the Kings’ power play unit continued to struggle to score. The Kings haven’t scored a man-advantage goal since their 5-2 win Nov. 19 over the Tampa Bay Lightning, a 0-for-33 streak spanning eight-plus games after going 0 for 5 against New York.

Also …

The Kings honored defenseman Larry Murphy before the game as part of their “Legends Night” series. Murphy was the first teenager to play for the Kings, who drafted him fourth overall in 1980. The Kings then traded him to the Washington Capitals on Oct. 18, 1983.